76 Account of the Founding lyfa 



ting telescope twenty feet long, and several others. By order 

 of this princess, the transit of Venus, in 1769, was observed by 

 twelve native and foreign astronomers, at places the most widely 

 separated in the empire; and on this occasion, as on more re- 

 cent ones, the journeys of the academicians contributed much to 

 the advance of the geography of the empire. Russia reckons 

 many illustrious sons among the astronomers of the present cen- 

 tury, such as Delisle, Lexell, Roumovvsky, Inochodzoff, and 

 Schubert ; the last of these, especially, may be considered as one 

 of the first theoretical astronomers of our day. 



A new era of practical astronomy commenced in Russia with 

 the glorious reign of Alexander. It was then that the ob- 

 servatories of Dorpat and of Abo were founded, and supplied 

 with instruments inferior to none even of the richest establish- 

 ments in Europe. It was for the observatory of Dorpat that the 

 grand telescope of Fraunhofer was constructed, — the most fa- 

 mous work of this incomparable artist, and one of the most per- 

 fect instruments which the history of astronomy has recorded. 

 In the same reign, the construction of a third observatory, that 

 of Nicolajef, was commenced, upon the Black Sea. This enter- 

 prize was particularly encouraged by Admiral Greig, well known 

 for his extensive acquirements in practical astronomy, and who 

 endeavoured thereby to procure for the fleet under his orders a 

 suitable and scientific station. The Emperor Nicholas, animat- 

 ed with the same views as his predecessor, has equally favoured 

 the progress of astronomy throughout the empire. By his 

 liberality, he has communicated a new degree of energy to the 

 observatory of Dorpat. The University of Abo, now removed 

 to Helsingfors, is indebted to him for the founding of a new 

 observatory, which, just finished, may be considered as the best 

 constructed in Europe, and which, doubtless, will yield much 

 rich fruit to science, under the indefatigable activity of the learn- 

 ed Argeiander. Under the auspices of Nicholas, an observatory 

 has also been founded in Moscow, our ancient capital, and ano- 

 ther is in progress at Kasan, which will be inferior to none of 

 its predecessors ; and speedily Kiew also, this new focus of in- 

 struction, will reckon an observatory among the number of its 

 scientific establishments. 



But this kind zeal of the emperor has carried him still fur- 



